Extra 5: End of Extras

They said they were going to plan a wedding, but such a massive and complicated task couldn’t be completed in a short time.

Xu Lin had accepted Ji Jinxuan’s proposal. That night, Ji Jinxuan was so excited he couldn’t sleep at all. He lay in bed holding Xu Lin, chattering on and on about all kinds of wedding details.

Xu Lin had been willing to talk at first, but as drowsiness overtook him, he grew too tired to continue. Ji Jinxuan, however, was still wide awake, talking endlessly with no sign of stopping.

Xu Lin lay in Ji Jinxuan’s arms, his eyelids drooping. Through his hazy vision, he could vaguely make out Ji Jinxuan’s bright eyes and curved lips. His voice buzzed in Xu Lin’s ears, the words becoming indistinct. Xu Lin let out a soft laugh, unable to hold on any longer. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Ji Jinxuan kept talking but stopped when he realized Xu Lin hadn’t responded for a while. He looked down to find Xu Lin asleep in his arms, his breathing steady and peaceful. The small room was lit only by a dim bedside lamp.

Ji Jinxuan leaned against the headboard, unwilling to put Xu Lin down. Xu Lin was sleeping soundly on his chest. Ji Jinxuan didn’t wake him. He gently traced Xu Lin’s face with his fingers, watching him in the warm lamplight, as if trying to make up for all the lost time.

He took Xu Lin’s left hand and looked at the two rings stacked on his finger. He laced his fingers through Xu Lin’s and held them. Lowering his head, he kissed Xu Lin’s fingers.

The scent of Xu Lin filled his senses. He breathed it in greedily, rubbing his cheek against Xu Lin’s palm, savoring the warmth that belonged to Xu Lin.

He pressed kiss after kiss into Xu Lin’s palm.

“Tickles…” Half-asleep, Xu Lin mumbled in discomfort and tried to pull his hand back, but failed. Ji Jinxuan stopped kissing his hand and leaned down to kiss his lips instead.

A soft sound escaped Xu Lin. Their shadows stretched across the floor, tangled together. Ji Jinxuan’s form completely covered the person beneath him. His eyes were open, one hand under Xu Lin’s head, the other tilting his chin up. He watched Xu Lin’s furrowed brows from close range as he continued.

Xu Lin’s breathing grew uneven. The room filled with soft, moist sounds.

Ji Jinxuan’s relentless movements finally woke Xu Lin. He opened his eyes and pushed against Ji Jinxuan’s shoulders. Ji Jinxuan didn’t move back. Xu Lin’s hands trembled, weakly clutching at Ji Jinxuan’s clothes before losing strength. His slender fingers slowly wrapped around Ji Jinxuan’s neck, disappearing into his dark hair.

“Turn off the light.”

Click. The lamp went out. The room plunged into darkness.

Xu Lin held onto Ji Jinxuan tightly, his nails leaving red marks on his back. Ji Jinxuan’s face was close to his ear, his breath burning hot. Then Xu Lin heard a soft laugh.

His mouth was dry. He forced himself to stay conscious. “What are you laughing at?”

Ji Jinxuan kissed the shell of his ear, his voice hoarse. “It feels like a dream.” He paused. “No, that’s not right.”

“Before,” he said, “I wouldn’t even dare to dream like this.”

Outside, the wind howled coldly, but the temperature inside was rising.

When everything finally settled, Xu Lin lay on the bed, too exhausted to lift a finger. He felt hot and pushed the blanket off, wanting some cool air. Within seconds, Ji Jinxuan pulled it back over him.

“You’ll catch cold.”

Xu Lin kept his eyes closed, too tired to argue. Fine. Keep the blanket on. Let it be hot. He gave up resisting and was about to drift off when Ji Jinxuan said, “Your ears are so red.”

He flicked Xu Lin’s ear, clearly teasing.

Xu Lin buried his face in the pillow, his voice muffled. “It’s because I’m hot.”

Ji Jinxuan laughed.

Then Xu Lin’s eyes snapped open. The room was dark, the curtains drawn. He could only make out Ji Jinxuan’s vague silhouette. How could Ji Jinxuan see that his ears were red?

Xu Lin was suddenly alert. “You can see?”

Ji Jinxuan’s silence was confirmation.

“You can see.” Xu Lin yanked the blanket over himself, hiding completely.

Ji Jinxuan tugged at the blanket. Xu Lin held on tight.

“Are you mad?” Ji Jinxuan asked carefully. “…Sorry.”

Under the blanket, Xu Lin’s cheeks burned. He had always assumed that with the lights off, Ji Jinxuan couldn’t see anything either. During those times, he always preferred darkness. In the villa, it had been the same—lights always off. Partly because Ji Jinxuan’s expression would become frightening, and partly because Xu Lin couldn’t control his own face very well.

He thought his expressions must look strange. With the lights off, he didn’t have to worry about hiding them, and he wouldn’t be unsettled by Ji Jinxuan’s hungry, predatory gaze.

But now he was being told that turning off the lights was only his own delusion? Ji Jinxuan had seen everything clearly all along?

All those times before… they’d all been—

“Xu Lin.”

Ji Jinxuan called his name softly, afraid he was still angry.

Xu Lin poked half his head out from under the blanket, his eyes searching for Ji Jinxuan in the dark.

“Don’t be mad. I’m sorry.”

Ji Jinxuan apologized earnestly, sounding uncertain, as if afraid Xu Lin would ignore him.

Xu Lin blinked and asked quietly, “Was it… weird?”

“What?”

“Back then… my expression…”

Ji Jinxuan caught on. He let out a relieved breath and smiled. “You’re not mad at me?”

Xu Lin said nothing.

Ji Jinxuan leaned down and hugged him, blanket and all. “It was beautiful.”

“I love it. I love it so much. I love watching you. I love you.”

Ji Jinxuan said, “I love you so much, Xu Lin.”

Xu Lin shrank deeper into the blanket, then shrank again. He could hear his own racing heart, and Ji Jinxuan’s too, beating together through the barrier of the blanket.

After a moment, he murmured, “Go to sleep. If we don’t sleep now, it’ll be dawn soon.”

Ji Jinxuan didn’t speak. He just looked at him. Xu Lin knew he was watching. Then Ji Jinxuan leaned down and kissed the tip of his chin.

“Goodnight.”

The next day, Xu Lin slept until afternoon. He woke up sore all over. Ji Jinxuan helped him sit up, fed him after he washed up, and helped him dress. He was smiling the whole time, looking very happy.

When Xu Lin asked why, Ji Jinxuan said he was taking him somewhere.

“Where?”

Ji Jinxuan took his hand and just smiled.

They walked hand in hand along the paths of District Thirteen. Ji Jinxuan didn’t say where they were going, and Xu Lin didn’t ask. Ji Jinxuan matched Xu Lin’s pace, occasionally asking if he was tired. When Xu Lin didn’t answer, he bent down to carry him on his back. A few passersby glanced their way, and Xu Lin’s face turned red. He told Ji Jinxuan to keep walking.

Eventually, they reached their destination.

Xu Lin stared at the sign in front of them, stunned.

“It’s the same wherever you go,” Ji Jinxuan said. He asked softly, “Is this okay?”

Xu Lin looked at Ji Jinxuan’s slightly anxious expression, then took his hand and said, “We’re already here. Might as well.”

Ji Jinxuan nodded seriously. “Yeah. Might as well.”

“Let’s go in.”

An hour later, they came out. Ji Jinxuan was holding two red booklets, and he couldn’t stop smiling.

On the way back, he held Xu Lin’s hand with one hand and studied the booklets with the other, flipping through them over and over.

Xu Lin found it amusing. “Are they really that beautiful? What’s so fascinating?”

Before he could finish, Ji Jinxuan pulled him into a tight embrace, burying his face in Xu Lin’s neck. He didn’t move for a long time.

Xu Lin didn’t pull away. He gently patted Ji Jinxuan’s back. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m so happy.” Ji Jinxuan’s voice trembled. “So, so happy.”

Their first marriage had been a disaster from start to finish. It had taken years of struggle, pain, and heartbreak on both sides before things finally seemed to be on the right track.

They’d gone down the wrong path, suffered so much, hurt each other so deeply. But at last, Ji Jinxuan had been given a chance to start over with Xu Lin.

“Xu Lin.”

“Yeah?”

Ji Jinxuan’s voice was rough. “I love you so much.”

Xu Lin raised his hand and gently rubbed the back of Ji Jinxuan’s head. “I know.”

Ji Jinxuan looked up. His eyes were red.

Xu Lin leaned in and kissed his reddened eyelid. “I love you too, Xuan-ge.”

Xu Lin’s leave was only twenty days. When that time was up, he had to return to the military. They could only get their marriage certificate for now. Ji Jinxuan said he would arrange the wedding and discuss the details with Xu Lin later. Xu Lin agreed.

Half a year passed like that.

One day, Zong Ningshuang received a message. Seeing the sender, she smiled and quickly opened it. But after reading the content, her bright smile collapsed into a strange, frozen expression.

She arrived in District Thirteen a week later, her face dark.

“Why the long face?”

Her brother, Zong Xi, patted her head. “It’s a happy occasion. Don’t make that face.”

Zong Ningshuang’s lips twitched, and she said nothing.

“Hello! You must be Lin-ge’s friends!”

At the dock, a stout man was squatting and smoking. When he saw them, he stubbed out his cigarette and walked over with a smile.

Zong Xi nodded. “Yes.”

“What do you mean, yes?” Zong Ningshuang snapped. “I’m the one.”

The man seemed to have been told to wait for them. After greeting them, he made a call. “Got them. Coming now.”

He waved at them. “This way, please!”

It was Zong Ningshuang’s first time in District Thirteen, and she was a little out of her element. She looked around curiously, stepping over potholes. After about ten minutes, they arrived at a beautiful church.

It was clearly newly built—large, spacious, and standing beside a lotus-filled lake. The carvings on the dome were intricate, and the materials were visibly expensive. In this run-down corner of District Thirteen, it was a completely out-of-place building.

Inside, the first thing she saw was a massive stained-glass window that almost replaced the entire wall. Sunlight streamed through it, casting rainbow-colored light across every corner of the church, like scattered diamonds.

Many guests had already arrived, sitting on the neat wooden pews.

Zong Ningshuang was surprised to see Ji Hongyun there. He was sitting with a man, chatting and laughing. The man was a Beta, wearing glasses, dressed formally, looking nervous. Ji Hongyun held his hand, as if comforting him.

Zong Ningshuang looked around but didn’t see Xu Lin. She asked the man who had led them in, “Where’s Xu Lin?”

“Oh, he’s in the back, changing,” the man said, pointing in a direction.

She thanked him and hurried over.

She found Xu Lin in a small room, wearing a white suit. He turned at the sound of the door and smiled. “Shuangshuang, you’re here.”

She rushed over, her face dark, wanting to say something but struggling to find the words.

Xu Lin looked at her carefully dressed-up appearance and complimented, “You look beautiful today.”

“What’s wrong?”

Zong Ningshuang looked at Xu Lin’s expression and let out a heavy sigh. “Forget it.”

She poked his forehead. “I can’t stop you if you’re set on going back to him. But you suddenly tell me you’re getting married, and I was happy for you until you said it’s to Ji Jinxuan. I nearly choked! If you want to kill me, just say so!”

She was furious, breathing heavily. Xu Lin gently rubbed her back.

Then she looked down and asked, “Is this really okay?”

Xu Lin paused, then smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry. This time, it’ll be fine.”

As they talked, another person entered the room.

Ji Jinxuan. He was carrying a paper bag and glanced at Zong Ningshuang as if she were invisible. He walked straight to Xu Lin, took out a warm cup of soy milk and some fried buns, and said, “Still hot. Eat something. You haven’t had anything since you woke up.”

He put the straw in the cup and held it to Xu Lin’s mouth. Xu Lin took a few sips, then Ji Jinxuan picked up a bun and fed it to him. Xu Lin opened his mouth and ate. It was smooth and natural—one feeding, the other eating, Ji Jinxuan’s hands staying clean the whole time.

Zong Ningshuang watched in silence for a while, then said goodbye to Xu Lin and left.

She walked into the church and stood at the entrance, looking up.

A group of seven or eight men were nearby. They seemed to be Xu Lin’s friends from District Thirteen, some just returning from out of town. Little Fatty was among them, and they were smoking and chatting.

“When was this church built?” someone asked.

Little Fatty said, “Ji Jinxuan built it. Who else would build something like this? He had it made just for the wedding. Hired a bunch of workers from the city. Ji Jinxuan was super picky—tore it down and rebuilt it over and over. Took half a year.”

“How come Lin-ge is suddenly marrying that guy? Someone from the city, too. He never mentioned it before.”

“Hey, fate’s unpredictable.”

“Another bachelor off the market. Damn!”

Zong Ningshuang quietly entered the church and sat next to Zong Xi. She looked at the stained-glass window, colorful light playing across her face. It reminded her of that night—Xu Lin leaning against the shattered window, bent over as if carrying a mountain on his back, laughing hysterically with tears streaming down his face, consumed by despair.

She never wanted to see Xu Lin like that again.

“I hope I only have to attend this once,” she said suddenly.

Zong Xi glanced at her and smiled. “Don’t worry. It’ll only be this once.”

He looked around. The church was filled with people, mostly of Xu Lin’s friends. His childhood friends from District Thirteen, his comrades from the military. Little Fatty and the others, wearing formal clothes Ji Hongyun had provided, looked stiff and awkward in suits they’d never worn before, but they were all smiling.

Li Mu and Fang Rong were there too. Yi Wei was sitting next to Li Mu, excitedly taking photos with his phone. Xiao Zhao sat beside Fang Rong, the two of them playfully bickering. Xiao Zhao’s mother watched them with a smile.

Pu Sha was there. He was supposed to give a toast later and was nervously reviewing his speech. Ji Hongyun was massaging his shoulders, chatting and laughing attentively. Behind them, Zhuang Xun was rolling his eyes.

Zong Xi smiled to himself. “It’s completely different from last time.”

Zong Ningshuang caught his muttering but didn’t hear clearly. “What?”

“Nothing.”

Soon, the ceremony began.

Pu Sha led Xu Lin down the aisle and placed his hand in Ji Jinxuan’s.

They exchanged vows before the priest.

For a moment, Xu Lin felt like he was seeing the scene from years ago. The words were similar too.

“In the presence of God, do you accept the other as your lifelong partner, to love and cherish, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be faithful to them until death?”

This time, Xu Lin’s face was unmarred. Ji Jinxuan was looking at him, smiling, his eyes unmistakably filled with love. Xu Lin heard his own voice answer, “I do.”

And he heard Ji Jinxuan’s voice follow, “I do.”

Ji Jinxuan took Xu Lin’s hand and slid a new ring onto his finger, settling it against the base. Xu Lin took the other ring from the box and slipped it onto Ji Jinxuan’s finger.

This time, the applause was thunderous.

It went on and on, pulling Xu Lin back to the present. He looked down at the crowd. It was not an empty church, but a church filled with his friends and family. It was a lively wedding witnessed by everyone. He turned to look at Ji Jinxuan, and as he did, Ji Jinxuan leaned down and kissed him.

Around their necks hung matching wild goose feather rings. And on their fingers, the same.

---

Not long after, a new photo appeared on Ji Jinxuan’s desk at the military academy.

In the photo, he stood next to a man, both in white suits. Behind them was a beautiful stained-glass window. Around them, a crowd of people with various expressions—some making funny faces, some smiling at the camera, some looking awkward and stiff—formed a lively scene. They were surrounded by friends, and Ji Jinxuan held Xu Lin’s waist as they both smiled at the camera, their heads tilted slightly toward each other.

Someone came to discuss work with Ji Jinxuan and saw him looking at the photo, a smile on his face.

Noticing the wedding ring on Ji Jinxuan’s left hand, the visitor smiled. “Congratulations on your wedding, Chief Ji.”

“Thank you.”

The visitor leaned in for a closer look and pointed at Xu Lin. “Is this your partner?”

“Yes.”

Curious, the visitor asked, “Who is this? I’ve never seen them before.”

Realizing he’d been too forward, he quickly apologized. “Sorry, sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

He expected Ji Jinxuan to brush it off, as was his nature. But Ji Jinxuan just smiled and answered.

He said, “The person I spent a long time chasing. My favorite person in the world.”